Vernier Sextants

Nautical Gifts: Vernier Sextants were, in skilled hands, instruments of great accuracy, practicality and beauty. Sextants are a joy to own and use, but also essential to the safety of the ship. Our replica is dedicated to Royal Navy Captain John Campbell, who developed the instrument from its predecessor, the Octant, in 1757. Crucially his invention was close in time to that of accurate, portable chronometers, and it was the combination of the two that finally made navigation a science rather than guesswork, saving countless lives.

This importance gave rise to the air of mystique, which surrounds the instrument and its use, even in today's age of electronic wizardry. Detailing is impressive, with hardwood handle and protective box, six shades of varying intensity, and a powerful telescope.

Sextants - what do they do?

It is a common misconception that a sextant "tells your position" when, in fact, the only information that can be obtained from it is an angular distance between two objects most often (in position finding) the sun and the horizon. Obtaining this angle is called "taking a sight".

Sextant - Removal from the box:

The sextant is a delicate and finely tuned instrument. When handling, it is important not to touch the mirrors or index arm, which are easily knocked out of alignment. We recommend that it be removed from (and returned to) the box by gripping the body, through the large circular holes. Once out of the box, the weight of the instrument should be carried by means of the wooden handle (A) on the reverse or the support feet (B) if laid down.

To take a sight (assuming observation of the sun):

Remove the replica sextant from its box and lay flat on a convenient surface.
Adjust the index arm (C) by rotating the index pinion (D) so that the Vernier scale (E) reads 0 degrees. (More information on this product accompanies the product). Position one or more filters in front of the index mirror (F) and one or more filters over the horizon glass (G). There are three shades in both positions, which can be used singly or in combination.
Hold the sextant in the right hand, by means of the wooden handle, so that the telescope (J) is near to the right eye, with the arc (serrated edge) facing downwards. The telescope focus is adjusted by sliding the eyepiece (K) in and out of the main housing.

Align the sextant so that the horizon in the direction of the sun appears through the telescope.

Rotate the index pinion (D) until the upper or lower limb (explained in accompanying notes) of the sun appears to line up with the horizon.

Read off the angle from the Vernier.

Lobster Pots - Authentic

AUTHENTIC LOBSTER POTS, HAND-MADE FROM WILLOW BY UK CRAFTSMAN USING TRADITIONAL TECHNIQUES. IT TAKES A WHOLE DAY TO MAKE JUST ONE!

In modern commercial fishing, the traditional, natural materials have mostly been replaced by plastic, but in the UK a few traditional craftsmen still preserve the old skills by continuing to make these aesthetically pleasing lobster pots for the decorative market. Ancient mariners with wizened expressions will happily tell you about lobster pots and lobster fishing in the old days - each November/December willows were cut, around 150 lobster fishing pots and 4 or 5,"Store Pots" were made. After the completion of pot making fishing for shellfish was resumed, usually in January/February.CHOICES:
Lobster Pot-Small: diameter 320mm (12"), height 300mm (13") [£46.37 Inc. VAT].
Lobster Pot-Medium: diameter 660mm (26"), height 460mm (18").[£78.45 Inc VAT]
LOBSTER POT COMPLETE SET - 1 Small, 1 Medium, one Large: PRICE FOR COMPLETE SET ONLY: £202.66 Inc VAT
(Save £50.66!)

Zoom Brass Telescope, Arc Mount with Mahogany Tripod

Brass Telescope - here's an unmistakable sense of Victorian naval tradition about this wonderful telescope. It is easy to imagine how, by simply possessing and displaying one in the library bay window, this could mean a lot to the status-minded gent, along with a decent top hat and horse and carriage of course. Here is a quality product, uniquely blending powerfully clear optics with traditional design in polished brass that won't show fingerprints. The brass is coated too so it will never require polishing. It is also a great practical product. This brass telescope is beautifully decorative either at home or in the office. The brass is coated too so it will never require polishing. Here is a great practical product at home or in the office when not in use.

A solid brass fieldscope mounted on an African mahogany tripod, the Real-Zoom telescope features a brass arc mount with azimuth and altitude locks and rack and pinion focusing. It has a precision made, fully coated achromatic 50mm objective lens. This telescope pivots up and down and rotates. The extendable tripod legs are made of African mahogany, lacquered 7 times and furnished with brass joints, lock collars, and stabilizing triangle which locks the tripod legs in place, ensuring no movement as you zoom and focus.

Officer of the Watch Telescope

Telescope - Pride of the Quarterdeck - "Now I See Ships"In the days of sail, the quarterdeck from which the ship was commanded was traditionally used by officers only. Its symbol of authority was the telescope handed from the officer of one"watch" period of four hours to the man taking over his duties.Our officer-of-the-watch telescope is in sateen polished brass with a hand-stitched leather grip.
The telescope's classic single draw makes it quick to open, extending to a full 18" (46cm). With a specially commissioned twist-focus to adjust the eyepiece (no such luxury in Nelson's time) and 20x magnification, it is a serious instrument.Front diameter 45mm (2.75"), eyepiece outer diameter 35mm (1.5") inner diameter 9mm (.25"), weight 730g (1.5lbs).Befitting its ceremonial use, the polished wood presentation box is shaped for display or as a storage rack.The corners have brass military furniture trim and there is an engraving plate for initials.

Hornblower Telescope

Hornblower may be a fictional character but the telescope was one of the most important inventions of the Seventeenth century. While lenses that could change the magnification of objects were known in the Western world at the end of the thirteenth century, it was not until 1608 that the first telescope was officially used.
Galileo Galilei made the telescope famous for astronomical observations in 1609. His observations were more detailed than any ever made. He was the first to provide drawings of the moons of Jupiter and document the phases of Venus. Since the time of Galileo, the craft of telescope making has been continually refined. And now we have Hubble which can see out to the furthest reaches of our universe.

Our Hornblower telescope is a fine optical device offering sharp, clear images, impressive depth of field and sensitive focusing. The eyepiece section is partly copper, which stylishly matches the brass. Each wooden hand-made box is comfortingly solid to hold and beautifully crafted, with a smooth, veneered exterior, brass hinges and clasp. Open the box and the finish is more antiquated and deliberately understated with the appearance of time-faded varnish and regular use.
No two boxes in our collection are the same - veneer varies in depth and colour from piece to piece. Each set is unique in its own right so you can be sure that yours will be a one-off.

HMS Victory - Museum Quality

HMS Victory - The memory of England's greatest sea battle after Drake's defeat of the Spanish Armada is kept fresh in all our minds by the continued existence of HMS Victory, which is preserved in a dry dock at Portsmouth. Launched in 1765, HMS Victory was already an old ship by the time of Trafalgar, which makes her survival to this day even more remarkable.
Walking her immaculate gun decks it is difficult to imagine now just how terrible the conditions must have been for her crew, sweating over their belching guns, with the decks slippery with the blood of their dead or wounded comrades.
A 100-gun First Rate ship designed by Sir Thomas Slade, the Surveyor of the Navy (1755-1771), according to the Establishment of 1745 as the only ship of its class and built in 1759-1765 at the Chatham Dockyard for the Royal Navy.
The Victory's main guns were 12 pounders (top), 24 pounders (middle) or 32 pounders. The big gun (left) was called a carronade, named The Smasher. Once the powder hole had been filled, it was fired by a slow match or flintlock. A rammer laid the cartridge and shot after the "worm" had removed cartridge fragments, and the damp sponge had put out any sparks there might be in the barrel.

Brass Compass and 100 Year Calendar

To use the calendar just turn the window to the relevant year and read off the scale.
The compass was developed over centuries. Early compasses were probably in use in ancient China, in Norway during the 1100's and in the Mediterranean shortly after. There's evidence that early Viking explorers used rudimentary compasses to navigate to "Vinland" on the northern tip of Newfoundland even earlier.
The first onboard compass was probably an iron pin magnetized by a lodestone, a magnetized ferrous rock. It was placed on a piece of cork in a bowl of water to maintain its northerly orientation. Columbus may have used such a device to keep his westward heading during his voyages to the Americas, although there is some dispute over this. Later explorers certainly had such devices, likely improved ones.
In the 16th century, a better understanding of the concepts of magnetism and variation resulted in more sophisticated compass design as the age of exploration began in earnest.

Battery Heated Gloves

Heated Gloves - MATERIAL:

Warmthru battery heated gloves use THERMOLITE WATERPROOF FABRIC and 3m THINSULATE in their construction. Special thermal bonded fibres provide a high level of warmth and weigh very little which is why these battery heated gloves really do punch above their weight.

Battery heated gloves are extremely soft, flexible and durable. The heated glove palms have a textured coating for good grip. A Velcro strap on the inside of the wrist keeps the warmth in and the cold out. The battery pouch is conveniently located on the outside of the gloves at the upper wrist. Warmthru heated gloves are designed to keep your hands warm, not hot. When you feel cold engage the heat by pressing the red button. Press again to turn the gloves off when your hands are comfortably warm. Warmthru heated gloves are unique in the market-place due to their push-button control.

Note that with other battery heated gloves, to switch OFF you must break the electrical contact by releasing a press-stud which means the battery will fall out unless you remove it and place it in your pocket - then replace it again when required. No such hassle with a PUSH-BUTTON - just switch off then on!

HEATING ELEMENT:

Located in the upper hand across the knuckles, the battery heated gloves inner heating element is far removed from the gripping palm and therefore suffers less wear and tear in normal usage than comparable battery heated gloves. This means these gloves are ideal for skiers and any other activity where the user's hands are required for action in freezing and wet conditions.

Here's what you get:

* Single D-Cell battery operation lasting 5-6 hours (rechargeables 2-3 hours)
* around 4 minutes warming up time
* choice of 3 sizes; Small, Med, Large
* Super-insulated with THERMOLITE and THINSULATE fabrics
* Lightweight, flexible and durable
* Texture-coated palms for good grip
* Velcro strap tightens to trap heat
* Ideal for skiers because, unlike rival gloves, the heating element is on the upper hand, far removed from the gripping palm
* SIX MONTH GUARANTEE AGAINST MANUFACTURER'S DEFECTS

Battery Heated Glove Liners

If you need to get more heat through to your hands than the popular and effective 'battery heated gloves' (above), here's your answer - battery heated glove liners. They are a bit more pricey but there's heat installed to all five fingers compared to just the palm. One size fits all.
Simply put the glove liners on then slip on your favourite gloves - this way you can be selective about glove thickness and how much finger movement you require. Cables travel up the sleeves then down the body to meet at the battery pack.

Deluxe Glove Liners - our newly developed DELUXE model is more expensive still at 152 GBP but it's quite a package and you'll never have to buy D-cell batteries again - an important financial consideration! One size fits all. Simply put the glove liners on then slip on your favourite gloves - this way you can be selective about glove thickness and how much finger movement you require. Cables travel up the sleeves then down the body to meet at the battery pack. DIRECTOR'S PRODUCT TEST: this is a fantastic product because the whole glove liner heats through including the fingers. However, there's a price to pay (with the standard version only now!) - WEIGHT - the battery pack houses 8 D-Cell batteries totalling 1.2 kilos. Pack dimensions: 14x6x7cm (5.5"x2.5"x2.75"). Actually when strapped to my belt and supported by my body it felt much less heavy than in the hand. Still quite bulky though. Which is why we've developed the Deluxe model. HEATED GLOVE LINERS TECHNICAL SPEC. Apologies to those who think it's too expensive but development costs are not cheap and we think it's worth every penny because there are so many benefits - see further below.

New Deluxe NimH Battery Heated Glove Liners:

* Rechargeable NiMh battery
* NiCd/NiMH Charger included takes only 4.5 hours to fully charge.
* Battery is half the weight of Standard version
* More power, more heat!
* Battery is smaller than Standard version at 50x50x105mm compared to 140x70x60mm.
* Battery weighs less than Standard version, at 682gmm compared to Standard 1200g (8xD-cell).
* You'll never have to buy batteries for your liners again because you just keep on charging your NiMH.
* MORE POWER, MORE HEAT, SMALLER SIZE, LESS WEIGHT, LESS MAINTAINANCE
* NOTE: WITH THE DELUXE YOU STILL GET THE 8XD-CELL BELT MOUNTED BATTERY-CONTAINER!

Drinking Bar Globes

Here are Italian-made globes modelled on originals from the 17th Century, when the shape, content and even existence of lands beyond Europe were matters for conjecture and debate. They include delightful images of legendary sea monsters, landmarks and foreign peoples, illustrating just how little was actually known and why sailors had so many misgivings about embarking on voyages of discovery. The segments are hand-applied and varnish-antiqued for an authentic look. Please note: mid 1600s positioning of countries and even whole continents was not accurate, so don't use these globes for navigation!

Globes that are Bars!

Gentlemen often liked to discuss the shape of the world 'and perhaps the next voyage of discovery' over a glass or two of something special. "Bar Globes" were thus a natural progression and became an essential piece of furniture for the well-equipped 17th Century home. Now difficult to find, they are still beautiful centrepieces that will always be a talking point, whether being used to serve drinks or not. Some simple self-assembly required, glasses and bottles not included. The two larger sizes have castors for easy movement.

World Time Set and Calendar

The world-time indicator works by adjusting the dial to show differences in time in the world's major cities, and the long-term calendars read the day of the week of any date in their 50-year span.

Schatz Clocks

Schatz is the leading name in classic ships instruments, a traditional German firm that, after an absence from the market have re-established production in Switzerland - the home of quality time instruments. They still make the mechanical chiming movements that were part of the daily routine to naval and merchant shipping crews 100 years ago.

Each instrument is made to extremely high standards, rigorously inspected for quality and accuracy - our confidence is such that we offer a two-year warranty. The intricate workmanship is protected in stove-lacquered solid brass cases with thick brass ports secured by scuttle clamps.

Schatz Royal Mariner Clock

Part of the 'Royal Range', top of the range instruments, are at home in the saloons and staterooms of the world's super-yachts.
Case diameter 180mm (7"), clock face diameter 130mm (5"), depth 92mm (4").
This clock has two eight-day mechanical movements: one for the clock and one for the chimes to mark the time-honoured "Ship's Bells" naval watch system - four hours on, four hours off (each half hour is marked by an increasing number of strikes until "eight bells" - time to change over) Supplied with a steel key for winding.
A digital version is also available at the same price - The Royal Ocean Clock. An electronic version of the Royal Mariner, powered by battery that keeps the quartz clock and Ship's Bells striking movements running for one year.

Schatz Royal Barometer

Schatz Royal Barometer is the perfect companion to the Royal Mariner Clock. Calibrated in millibars (metric units of pressure) and millimetres (mercury units of pressure). The lower half of the dial has a thermometer that measures in Celsius (centigrade) and Fahrenheit.
Case diameter 180mm (7"), clock face diameter 130mm (5"), depth 92mm (4")

Schatz Midi Mariner

The Schatz Midi Mariner Clock is a smaller version of the Royal Mariner - Ship's bell chiming clock with mechanical movement. Specifically aimed at smaller vessels, where the Schatz Royal Range would look oversized in relation to other cabin furnishings, but where top quality is still required.
Case diameter 155mm (6"), clock faced diameter 100mm (4"), depth 70mm (3").

Schatz Midi Hygrometer

The Schatz Midi Hygrometer - Reads relative humidity as a percentage (of the moisture that surrounding air would contain if it were fully saturated) and temperatures in degrees Celsius (Centigrade).
Specifically aimed at smaller vessels, where the Royal Range would look oversized in relation to other cabin furnishings, but where top quality is still required. Case diameter 155mm (6"), clock faced diameter 100mm (4"), depth 70mm (3").

Tide Clocks

Tides are mainly caused by the moon's gravitational pull on the ocean. The time it takes the moon to travel round the earth (24 hours and 50 minutes) is called a "lunar" day. Most areas in the world have two high tides and two low tides per day; so the tide clock has been specially designed to rotate twice each lunar day (every 12 hours and 25 minutes) giving you a quick and easy indication of high and low water.

Wood and Brass Dominoes

Dominoes are small tiles traditionally carved from ivory or bone with small, round pips of inset ebony. These tiles may be used to play many different games. Our name for these tiles may derive from this black on white look. 'Domino' is the French word for a Christian priest's winter hood, which was black on the outside and white on the inside. 'Domino' is also a style of mask featuring a black and white motif. The oldest domino sets date from around 1120 AD. Dominoes as most of the Western world knows them however, appear to be a Chinese invention. They were apparently derived from cubic dice, which had been introduced into China from India some time in the dim and distant past. Each domino originally represented one of the twenty-one results of throwing two dice. One half of the tile is set with the pips from one die and the other half contains the pips from the second die.

Star Recogniser

The Star Recogniser succeeds the hugely successful 'Stellarscope', with great new features. It performs all the same functions with even greater simplicity and with the added advantage of a compass and illumination included.
Easily held in the palm of the hand, the Star Pocket provides quick and simple identification of stars by comparing them against a tiny illuminated built-in star map.

An integrated compass provides alignment for two setting scales, one for the hour of day or night, the other for the month and approximate date. Pressing a button illuminates the star map to one eye while the other eye looks at the real thing in the heavens - same size, same shape and instantly recognisable. It will locate and 70 major constellations and 1,500 stars up to magnitude 5. Includes interchangeable star maps for Northern and Southern hemispheres, plus four templates for adjusting latitude clipped underneath the compass. (Star Pocket is supplied ready for use in Europe, with a Northern star map preset for 40 - 50 degree latitude)

Star Recogniser - 145mm (6") long. Stores neatly in water-resistant drawstring bag. Two miniature batteries and full instructions in English included (other languages available)

Star Globe

Star Globe shows all the major stars and constellations visible from earth as if they were placed on a sphere of constant radius, which rotates about a central earth. This assumption is, of course, incorrect but gives an effective model of what we actually see. In use, date, hour and latitude are set, showing the half of that sphere which is theoretically visible at a given time and place.
Once aligned (Using the built-in compass), Star Globe is relatively simple to visualise which star should be in which position.